Editor

In its third film announcement, the 2008 Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) has released the line-up for its Spotlight Presentations. The festival has also announced a number of official selections added to the lineup for the eighth annual Festival. The diverse fare of 108 films unspooling at HBFF 2008 includes 23 features, 53 shorts, 16 documentaries, 12 student films, 2 animated films and 2 music videos. Opening and closing night films will be announced early next month. The Festival runs June 3-8, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California.

The out-of-competition Feature Presentations are:
A GOOD DAY TO BE BLACK & SEXY, A Magnolia Pictures Release, written & directed by Dennis Dortch. Straight from Sundance, Dennis Dortch's daring directorial debut ambitiously charts black sexuality through a set of six deliciously amusing, interconnected vignettes that unfold in a single day in Los Angeles.

NORTH STARR, written & directed by Matthew Stanton. A murder witness on the run from the inner city must stand his ground in a tiny Texas town in order to keep his dreams alive. (World Premiere)

"It is not unusual for us to add films to our lineup - especially quality films which we know will have immense appeal," said Jacqueline Blaylock, HBFF Programming Director. "These films fit the bill perfectly." The newest additions to HBFF's 2008 competitive line-up are:
Feature:

FRED HAMMOND'S CHRISTMAS...WHO NEEDS IT, written by Fred Hammond & PamKenyon M. Donald, directed by Juan Roberts

Documentaries:

KEEPING THE FAITH, written & directed by Bobby Mardis

PRINCE AMONG SLAVES, written by Andrea Kalin & Lloyd "Raki" Jones, directed by Bill Duke & Andrea Kalin


Shorts:

IN TIME, written by Adetoro Makinde, directed by Adetoro Makinde & Maurice A. Dwyer
MURDERING MAMA'S BOY, written by Katherine Cunningham-Eves & Emily Raboteau, directed by Katherine Cunningham-Eves
STEEP, written by Adetoro Makinde & JoNell Kennedy, directed by Adetoro Makinde
For the complete list of films selected for HBFF 2008, visit the official festival website at http://www.hbff.org.


HBFF 2008 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (subject to change)


Tuesday, June 3, 2008
10am - 5pm: Registration - Crescent Hotel Lobby
7:30 pm: Opening Night Film - Writers Guild Theatre
10pm: Opening Night After-Party sponsored by One Village Entertainment - Location TBA

Wednesday, June 4, 2008
10am: Stop By. Shoot Film. sponsored by Kodak - Location TBA (sign-up required)
10 - 11:30am: Developing Reality Television - Clarity Theatre
9am - 1pm: Storyteller Competition Finalists' Mentoring Session - Beverly Hills Library Conference Room (invitation only)
11am-5pm: Apple iTunes Lounge - Clarity Theatre lobby
11am - 11pm: Screenings - Laemmle Music Hall 3
12 - 1:30pm: Power Networking - Clarity Theatre
2pm: Stop By. Shoot Film. sponsored by Kodak - Location TBA (sign-up required)
2:30 - 4:00pm: Positioning Your Film for Success - Clarity Theatre
4:30 - 6pm: Filmmaker's Roundtable - sponsored by Black Talent News - Clarity Theatre
6:00 -7 :30pm: Comedy in Film - Clarity Theatre
7:30 - 10pm: UK Film Council's Breakthrough Brits Gala Reception in partnership with HBFF (invitation-only) - The London Hotel
9pm - 2am: Networking Reception - Nirvana

Thursday, June 5, 2008
9am - 1pm: Storyteller Competition Finalists' Mentoring Session - Beverly Hills Library Conference Room
10am: Stop By. Shoot Film. sponsored by Kodak - Location TBA (sign-up required)
10am - 11:30am: Film Financing Strategies - Clarity Theatre
11am - 11pm: Screenings - Laemmle Music Hall 3, Writers Guild Theatre
11am - 11pm: Apple iTunes Lounge - Writers Guild Theatre lobby & Clarity Theatre lobby
12:30 - 2pm: Film Music - Clarity Theatre
2pm: Stop By. Shoot Film. sponsored by Kodak - Location TBA (sign-up required)
2:30pm - 4pm: Film Distribution - Clarity Theatre
2:30pm - 5:30pm: Storyteller Competition Finalists' Mentoring Session - Beverly Hills Library Conference Room
4:30pm - 7:30pm: Actor's Boot Camp - Clarity Theatre
7pm-10pm: "A Conversation With ..." - Location TBA
9pm - 2am: HBFF Cinema Lounge co-sponsored by EURweb.com - Location TBA

Friday, June 6, 2008
10am - 11:30am: Script Secrets: How to Find Representation and Get Produced - Clarity Theatre
11am - 11pm: Screenings - Laemmle Music Hall 3, Writers Guild Theatre
11am - 11pm: Apple iTunes Lounge - Writers Guild Theatre lobby & Clarity Theatre lobby
12pm - 1:30pm: NegotiatingTactis: How to Structure the Most Favorable Deal - Clarity Theatre
2:30pm - 4pm: Programming for Primetime - Clarity Theatre
4:30pm - 6pm: Filming Overseas - Clarity Theatre
7pm: Storyteller Competition Live Staged Reading - Beverly Hills Library Auditorium
9pm - 2am: The HBFF White Party - Clarity Atrium

Saturday, June 7, 2008
10am - 11:30am: Theatrical Acquisitions - Clarity Theatre
10am - 4:00pm: Attorney Meet & Greet - Clarity Theatre
11am - 11pm: Screenings - Laemmle Music Hall 3, Writers Guild Theatre
11am - 11pm: Apple iTunes Lounge - Writers Guild Theatre lobby & Clarity Theatre lobby
12pm - 1:30pm: How to Pitch Your Story & Get it Sold - Clarity Theatre
2pm - 3:30pm: Producers Roundtable (brown bag lunch) - Clarity Theatre
4pm - 6:00pm: Pitchathon Roundtable - Clarity Theatre
9pm - 2am: Black Women in Film Party - Siren Studios

Sunday, June 8, 2008
10am - 1pm: Actors Bootcamp - Sponsored by BackStage West - Clarity Theatre
11am - 1pm: HBFF 2008 Filmmaker Awards & Reception - Life on Wilshire (invitation only)
1:30pm - 3pm: New Technology & Digital Distribution - Sponsored by DMA - Clarity Theatre
2pm - 11pm: Screenings - Laemmle Music Hall 3, Writers Guild Theatre
2pm - 11pm: Apple iTunes Lounge - Writers Guild Theatre lobby & Clarity Theatre lobby
2:30pm - 4pm Faith-based Cinema - Clarity Theatre
7pm: Closing Night Film - Writers Guild Theatre
10pm: Closing Night Wrap Party - Clarity Courtyard